Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and recently-elected Palestinian
Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will hold their first summit during
the second week of February, Palestinian Cabinet secretary Hassan Abu
Libdeh said on Saturday.

Israeli and Palestinian officials will hold a flurry of meetings this
week to prepare for the summit. "The date will be set according to
the results of the meetings this week," Abu Lidneh said. "It could be
on the seventh, eighth or ninth of February."

The summit would be the highest-level direct contacts between the
sides since the signing of the road map peace plan by Sharon and then
prime minister Abbas in June 2003.

Talks are slated to begin later Saturday in a meeting between Defense
Minister Shaul Mofaz and former PA security minister and senior Fatah
leader Muhammad Dahlan.

In another step toward a truce with the Palestinians, Mofaz is to
discuss with Dahlan a PA request for security control over certain
West Bank towns.

The defense establishment has already expressed its inclination to
consent to such applications, yet has stressed that the process would
be gradual and would depend of the maintenance of quiet in the areas,
according to a report on Army Radio.

In accordance with security assessments, the IDF will also make
arrangements to ease movement on the roads in the West Bank.

Dahlan responded to the steps saying it was a positive move that
could increase the chances of reaching a hudna (cease-fire).

In a major policy reversal in the Gaza Strip after more than four
years of fighting, IDF Chief of General Staff Moshe Ya´alon ordered
the army on Friday to reduce offensive operations in Gaza to a
minimum in order to enable PA forces to carry out their mission.

The IDF will reportedly halt all offensive missions in areas where
Palestinian policemen have deployed to prevent the launchings of
Kassam rockets and mortar shells at southern Israel and Gaza
settlements

In addition, in accordance with security assessments and subordinate
to Palestinian security deployment to stop terror attacks at
crossings, the IDF will make arrangements to reopen Erez, Karni and
Rafah crossings next week for the benefit of the residents of the
Gaza Strip.

Israel opened the Karni crossing in the northern Gaza Strip for
several hours on Friday morning, during which merchandise was
exported from the Gaza Strip.

The site has been closed in the past two weeks after a deadly attack
at the crossing claimed the lives of six Israelis.

The decision was reached following a security evaluation and as an
Israeli gesture towards the Palestinians.

Furthermore, the chief of staff has ordered that IDF targeting of
terrorists in the West Bank will only take place if there is an
immediate threat by active terrorist cells, and only with his
explicit authorization.